Combined head-rest and walking-cane



(No Model.)

T. S. MINNISS. COMBINED HEAD BEST AND WALKING CANE. No. 433,016.

Patented July 29, 1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS S. MINNISS, OF MEADVILIJE, PENNSYLVANIA.

COMBIN ED HEAD-REST AND WALKING-CAN E.

SP ECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 433,016, dated July29, 1890.

Application filed March 29, 1890. Serial No. 345,924, (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS S. MINNISS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Mead- Ville, in the county of Crawford and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in aCombined I Iead-Restand alking-Cane an d Idohercby declare that thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same.

The object of the present application is to simplify and cheapen and atthe same time retain all the desirable points in my former patent, No.418,800, of January 7, 1890, and application Serial No. 339,911, filedFebruary 10, 1890.

Figure 1 shows the combination complete of the head-rest when in use.Fig. 2 is a top view of the same of full practical size. Fig.

is a crosssection of cane full size locked together. Fig. at is a viewof the cane ready for use as such with a section cut away to show thecentral lock.

The cane, as in my former applications, is made in two equal parts andis to be used in the same man ner when the parts are togethere'. e, thesupport to the head is sustained at the tops of the two half-canes,which reston the front of the shoulders, reaching to the hands, whichcan adjust the rest to an easy poise for the head and hold it there.

The headrest B is a block curved on the side where the head rests, andthe rod C runs through 13 from end to end. (See dotted lines.) C fitssnugly through B, but not so tight but that it may be turned toaccommodate the head in any position desired. After C is forced throughB itis then bent, as seen in Fig. 1, and the shanks I I are pressed intoholes in the tops of the half-canes. (See dotted lines, Fig. l.) Theholes in both A and B are made to hug the rod C so tight as to requiresome force to turn them, so that they will maintain any adjustmentdesired. The rod 0 is made of about one-eighth-inch steel wire, and byits elasticity allows great freedom of spread or contraction when thecanes come down each side the body under the hands, thus conforming toVarioussized pen sons. The rod 0 may be bent first, as seen in Fig. 1,when a groove made along the back of B will receive it, where it can befastened with a staple or screw at each end driven so as to give therequired friction to prevent easy turning, or B can be made of tin orother sheet metal, and in any case itcan be tastefully upholstered.

The dotted lines 011 A, Fig. 2, show the position of the half-canes whenadjusted to the front of the shoulders, while the curved side of Bsustains the head. The head-rest, which is made of the two parts B and0, when drawn from the holes in the tops of A, being about six incheslong, can be carried in the pocket, and the two parts of the cane can beunited, as seen in Fig. 4. The ferrule G is fixed to one of the halves,and to the same side there is a plate F secured, that is just flush withthe flat surface of A. F has a slot at its upper end just wide enough toreceive the neck of the screw D; but before the plate F is fixed bybrads or screws in position a gutter E is made deep enough to allow theprojecting head of D to slide under F. Now J is slipped in G and Dslipped under F, the cap is pushed on, and lock is complete. (See Fig.4.) This combination of D and F may be fixed at three or more placesfrom top to bottom and the cap II and ferrule G dispensed with, ifdesired.

To separate the parts, remove the cap H and tap the top of the side of Awith the fixed ferrule, and they will unlock.

In my former patent, No. 8,806, and application, Serial No. 339,911, Ihave set forth the use of two half-canes, united in the first case witha web and in the second with a hinged hand-piece. I therefore do notclaim this combination, broadly.

Vhat I do claim as myinvention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-- In a combined cane and head-rest, the combination of the twohalf-canes A A, adapted to be unlocked and locked together, a headrestB, adjustably supported on rod C, having shanks I I, which tightly fitinto holes in the top of the two half-canes A A, substantially as andfor the purpose set forth.

THOMAS S. MINNISS.

Witnesses:

J. N. MoCLosKEY, ISAAC MONDERAU.

